What’s On in Harrogate, Knaresborough & Ripon This Weekend: 21–23 August 2026

Looking for something to do this weekend? You’ve picked a good one.

From dinosaurs in Harrogate and a huge food festival at Ripley to classic cars, live music and family adventures, there’s a packed three days ahead across Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.

Whether you’re planning a family day out, meeting friends, hunting for free entertainment or simply fancy going somewhere different, here are some of our picks for Friday 21 to Sunday 23 August 2026.

🦖 Dinosaurs Take Over Valley Gardens

📍 Valley Gardens, Valley Drive, Harrogate, HG1 2SZ
📅 Friday 21–Sunday 23 August | 10.30am–5pm
🎟️ Free entry

If you’ve got dinosaur fans in the family, Valley Gardens should be high on your weekend list.

Harrogate’s beautiful park becomes a giant summer playground with dinosaur meet-and-greets, children’s rides, inflatables and giant games.

Best of all, entry is free – so you can drop in for a couple of hours or make a day of it and explore Harrogate afterwards.

👉 Our pick for: A free family day out.

🍔 Arrive Hungry – Harrogate Food & Drink Festival

📍 Ripley Castle, Ripley, Harrogate, HG3 3AX
📅 Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 August

Don’t eat before you go.

Ripley welcomes a huge weekend of street food, independent drinks, artisan traders, entertainment and family activities.

Grab something you’ve never tried before, find a drink, listen to the entertainment and enjoy the summer festival atmosphere.

👉 Our pick for: Foodies, friends and a lazy summer afternoon.

🌐 Website: harrogatefoodfestival.com

🚗 Classic Cars Take Over the Great Yorkshire Showground

📍 Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, HG2 8NZ
📅 Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 August

Love cars? This could be your weekend highlight.

Mathewsons Live brings classic cars, rare vehicles, rally action, motorsport, entertainment and food to Harrogate for two days.

Even if you aren’t a dedicated petrolhead, there should be plenty to see as you wander around the showground.

👉 Our pick for: Classic-car lovers and anyone who enjoys a big show.

🌐 Website: mathewsons.co.uk

🎨 Catch the Final Weekend of Knaresborough FEVA

📍 Various venues across Knaresborough, HG5
📅 Ends Sunday 23 August

Haven’t explored FEVA yet? This weekend is your last chance.

Knaresborough’s Festival of Entertainment and Visual Arts reaches its finale with music, performances, exhibitions and community events around town.

Don’t just visit one event – have a wander through Knaresborough, explore the independent shops and cafés and make an afternoon of it.

👉 Our pick for: Culture, music and exploring Knaresborough.

🌐 Website: feva.info

🌈 Follow the Yellow Brick Road in Knaresborough

📍 Mother Shipton’s Cave, Prophecy Lodge, High Bridge, Knaresborough, HG5 8DD

There’s something a little different waiting in the woods at Mother Shipton’s.

A Summer in Oz brings a colourful Wizard of Oz-inspired family adventure to one of Knaresborough’s most famous attractions.

Follow the trail before exploring the Petrifying Well, historic cave and riverside woodland.

👉 Our pick for: Younger families looking for an adventure.

🌐 Website: mothershipton.co.uk

⚡ Pokémon-Inspired Fun at Fountains Abbey

📍 Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden, Fountains, Ripon, HG4 3DY

Imagine combining Pokémon-inspired activities with one of Yorkshire’s most spectacular historic locations.

Families can enjoy special Summer of Play activities while exploring the abbey ruins, gardens and enormous Studley Royal estate.

Take your walking shoes – this is one you’ll want to explore.

👉 Our pick for: Families who want activities and a proper day outdoors.

🌐 Website: nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey

🎵 Fancy Some Live Music?

There are plenty of reasons to stay out a little later this weekend.

🎸 Vincent Flatts Final Drive – Knaresborough

📍 Frazer Theatre, Off High Street, Knaresborough, HG5 0EQ
📅 Friday 21 August | 7.30pm

Expect a lively evening of blues, boogie and rock ‘n’ roll during FEVA’s final weekend.

🌐 Website: frazertheatre.co.uk

🕯️ Taylor Swift by Candlelight – Ripon

📍 Ripon Cathedral, Minster Road, Ripon, HG4 1QT
📅 Friday 21 August | 7.30pm

Taylor Swift favourites performed by candlelight inside the spectacular surroundings of Ripon Cathedral.

🌐 Website: riponcathedral.org.uk

🎺 Leeds City Stompers – Ripley

📍 Ripley, near Harrogate, HG3
📅 Saturday 22 August | 2.30pm

Step back into the 1920s and 1930s with swing, blues, ragtime and roots music.

🎵 The Blues Bar – Harrogate

📍 4 Montpellier Parade, Harrogate, HG1 2TJ

If you fancy live music without making too many plans, head into Harrogate and see what’s happening at one of the town’s best-known music venues.

🎤 Katie O’Brien’s – Harrogate

📍 2–4 The Ginnel, Harrogate, HG1 2RB

There’s acoustic music across the weekend:

• Friday: Nick Keating
• Saturday: Josh Ozturk
• Sunday: Andrew Cox

👀 Can’t Decide? Start Here

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Taking the kids? Try Valley Gardens, Mother Shipton’s Cave or Fountains Abbey.

🍔 Feeling hungry? Head to the Harrogate Food & Drink Festival at Ripley.

🚗 Love classic cars? Mathewsons Live is the obvious choice.

🎨 Fancy exploring? Spend an afternoon in Knaresborough and catch the final weekend of FEVA.

🎵 Want an evening out? Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon all have live music to choose from.

☀️ One Weekend – Three Great Yorkshire Destinations

You don’t have to choose just one.

Start in Harrogate, spend an afternoon exploring Knaresborough or head towards Ripon and Fountains Abbey. With so much happening within a relatively small area, this is a great weekend to discover somewhere you’ve not visited for a while.

From dinosaurs and street food to classic cars, historic ruins and live music, there’s something for almost everyone.